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08/13/2013

Koch Bros. group targets NW Ohio Republican

The conservative group Americans for Prosperity spent $33,542,051 to
influence elections in 2011 and 2012 - but not one penny of that against
Republicans.

Is that about to change?

The Ohio chapter of Americans for Prosperity has weighed in on the proposed Medicaid expansion championed by state Rep. Barbara Sears (R., Monclova Township).

The
group tied Sears' Medicaid expansion efforts to Obamacare and made
clear it plans to wage war against expansion of the Medical insurance
program for poor people.

Sears has said
she opposes the bulk of ObamaCare but that extending Medicaid coverage
to more lower-income Ohioans is in their and the state's interest.

Americans for Prosperity is bankrolled by libertarian billionaire businessmen David and Charles Koch.

Sears
is on the same page as Gov. John Kasich - and both are out of sync with
the most conservative wing of the Republican Party on this issue.

A
local Tea Party group last month announced it had done a survey showing
that Monvlova Township businessman Rich Iott would have a good chance
of beating Sears in the Republican primary in 2014 - based entirely on
her support of Medicaid expansion.

Here's some of what AFP-Ohio had to say about Sears' legislation:

“At
a time when even the Obama Administration is essentially admitting
defeat by delaying key provisions of Obamacare, Rep. Sears should not
recklessly and irresponsibly tie our state’s finances and the physical
health and well-being of our most vulnerable citizens to this eventual
disaster. We call on all members of the Ohio General
Assembly to support Ohio families, stand up for fiscal responsibility,
and oppose Rep. Sears and President Obama’s Medicaid expansion.”